GEAR LAB

WHEN PLANNING OUR trip to South Dakota to ride the Black Hills BDR-X ( see story on page 22 ), we knew we needed good adventure luggage and opted for Shad TR40 Terra Adventure Saddlebags , which are soft bags with a rigid mounting system .

Each TR40 Terra saddlebag has an outer bag made of abrasion-resistant material with reinforced stitching and an inner dry bag , both with roll closures to

keep out dust and water . Each side has 32 liters of capacity , holds up to 22 lb , and measures 15.75 x 9.8 x 14.9 inches . One side has an outer fuel / water bottle holder , and the other has a small roll-top accessory bag .

On the back of each saddlebag is a hard plastic mounting plate that is compatible with Shad ’ s 4P System Mount , which is sold separately and available for a wide range of ADV motorcycles . For

Reid ’ s CFMOTO Ibex 800 T , the 4P mount is $ 309.99 . The only mount Shad offers for Daniel ’ s Royal Enfield Himalayan is the 3P ($ 172.99 ), which has an inverted L-shaped hanger rather than the full loop hanger of the 4P , so the connection with the TR40 backing plate was more flexible , and the bags bounced around a bit more .

Overall , we ’ ve logged about 3,000 miles on the Ibex 800 T and 1,500 miles on the Himalayan with the TR40 Terra bags , including tough adventure miles on the Black Hills BDR-X . We like the size , shape , and style of the TR40 Terra setup , which keeps gear low and forward on the bike . The 4P mount is sturdy and survived multiple tip-overs . With six Duraflex cam buckles and eight reinforced straps per bag , our gear stayed put and didn ’ t rattle or slide around . The bagwithin-a-bag design and roll-top closures kept water out , even when we used a high-pressure sprayer to clean mud off the bikes after the BDR-X . However , because both bags are black , stuff can get lost in the dark bottom . Also , when the inner dry bag was packed full , it would not slide into or out of the outer bag .

The Double Locking System locks the bag to the 4P mount and locks the outer straps in place to prevent unwanted access . We appreciated being able to lock the bags to the bike , but having to use a key to lock and unlock the outer straps every time we wanted to open the bags was a hassle . Since convenience was more important than security for us , we bypassed the strap lock by trimming the locking tab for the C-ring . We also modified the top straps to allow more adjustability . The locking mechanism that attaches the bags to the 4P mount got jammed up a couple of times from mud and rocks , so keeping them clean and lubricated is important for regular removal and mounting of the saddlebags .

Priced at $ 578.99 plus the cost of the 4P System Mount ( from $ 222.99 to $ 343.99 ), the Shad TR40 Terra Adventure saddlebags are a good value for durable , secure , waterproof luggage .

— DANIEL DÉGALLIER & REID STRAIT

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50 / FEBRUARY 2024 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM